λῐθοβολ-έω G3036
To stone, pelt with stones as judicial execution or mob violence; the standard biblical term for death by stoning.
Lithoboleo is the compound verb for stoning, combining lithos (stone) with ballo (throw). It appears exclusively in contexts of lethal or near-lethal violence. Jesus laments over Jerusalem as the city that 'stones those sent to her' (Matt 23:37, Luke 13:34), making the word a bitter refrain of prophetic rejection. In Acts 7:58-59, it narrates Stephen's execution in harrowing detail. Spanish 'apedrear' (from 'piedra,' stone) and German 'steinigen' (from 'Stein') mirror the transparent Greek compound, preserving the visceral connection between the rock and the act.
Senses
1. to stone, pelt with stones — To hurl stones at a person, typically as a form of judicial execution or communal punishment prescribed by Torah law. All seven NT occurrences involve deadly intent. In Matt 21:35 the tenants stone one of the owner's servants; in Matt 23:37 and Luke 13:34 Jesus grieves over Jerusalem's habit of stoning God's messengers; and in Acts 7:58-59 the stoning of Stephen becomes the paradigmatic martyrdom of the early church. The multilingual glosses (Spanish 'apedrear,' French 'lapider,' German 'steinigen') all employ dedicated stoning vocabulary, confirming this word's narrow, violent semantic range. 7×
AR["راجِمَةَ", "رَاجِمَةَ", "رَجَموا", "رَجَمُوا", "رَجَمُوهُ", "لِيَرجُموا", "يُرْجَمُ"]·ben["পাথর-মারছিল", "পাথর-মারছিল।", "পাথর-মারতে", "পাথর-মারল", "পাথর-মারা-হবে", "পাথর-মারে"]·DE["steinigen", "λιθοβολοῦσα", "λιθοβολῆσαι", "ἐλιθοβόλησαν", "ἐλιθοβόλουν"]·EN["it-shall-be-stoned", "stoned", "stoning", "they-were-stoning", "to-stone"]·FR["lapider"]·heb["לִסְקֹל", "סָקְלוּ", "סוֹקֶלֶת", "תִּסָּקֵל"]·HI["पत्थर-मारनेवाली", "पत्थर-मारा", "पत्थरवाह-करने-वाली", "पत्थरवाह-किया-जाएगा", "पत्थराव-करने-लगे", "पथराव-करने-को"]·ID["ia-harus-dirajam;", "melempari-batu", "melempari-batu.", "melempari-dengan-batu", "merajam", "mereka-lempari-batu"]·IT["elithobolesan", "lapidare", "lithobolousa", "lithobolēthēsetai"]·jav["badhé-dipunbenturi-watu", "ingkang-mbenturi-watu", "mbenturan-séla", "mbenturan-séla.", "mbenturi", "mbenturi-watu"]·KO["돌로-쳐-죽이라", "돌로-쳤다", "돌로-치고-있었다", "돌로-치는", "돌로-치는-자여", "돌을-던지려고"]·PT["apedreja", "apedrejaram.", "apedrejarem", "apedrejavam", "será-apedrejado"]·RU["побивали-камнями", "побивающий-камнями", "побили-камнями.", "побит-камнями-будет", "побить-камнями"]·ES["apedreaban", "apedrear", "apedrearon", "que-apedrea", "será-apedreada"]·SW["-", "atapigwa-mawe", "kuwapiga-mawe", "tena", "walimpiga-mawe"]·TR["taşladılar", "taşlamak", "taşlanacak", "taşlayan", "taşlıyorlardı"]·urd["سنگسار-کرتے-رہے", "سنگسار-کرنا", "سنگسار-کرنے-لگے", "سنگسار-کرنے-والی", "سنگسار-کیا", "سنگسار-کیا-جائے-گا"]
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
λῐθοβολ-έω, pelt with stones, stone, LXX+1st c.BC+:—passive, LXX